The 8 steps to journal total utility

Be clear what you want from it: e.g. evidence in support of a particular theory, an important theoretical result, understanding of a particular concept

Read the abstract

Decide whether the journal meets your objective in (1)

Read the introduction and conclusion

Re-evaluate whether the journal meets your objective

Write down important points from abstract, introduction and conclusion

Decide whether to read on.

If so, decide which sections to skip or skim – often articles contain complex mathematical derivations which it is not necessary to understand (normally you will use simpler models from textbooks or lecture notes).